Meet Joan who is running for the Cavewell Nurses Trust #Pint4Cavell

A massive congratulations to Joan Pons Laplana who recently completed the 2021 Sheffield Half Marathon! Narrowly missing his two hour target, Joan ran the full course dressed as a pint of Guinness, in aid of supporting his fellow NHS workers who are struggling with their mental health – an issue that is personal to him as his front line work for the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic left him with PTSD.

Thanks to the support available by his colleagues in the NHS, Joan started therapy straight away and with the help of his psychologist he came to understand that mental imbalance is nothing to be ashamed of. As a result, Joan has opened up about his personal experience with the aim to get more people to talk about how they are feeling and in turn break the taboo surrounding mental health.

Joan, 46, said: “The most important learning I’ve done is knowing that mental health is as important as physical health. You need to allow yourself to recognise your feelings and learn to share.”

He added, “The bravest thing a person can do is ask for help when they need it. The problem is that for many years society has made us believe that having ups and downs in your mental health is a sign of weakness."

Joan has been raising money for the Cavewell Nurses Trust, a charity which helps nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, both working and retied, when they are suffering personal or financial hardship.

Joan tells us, “We are in the road out of the COVID pandemic but another one is on its way. The impact that COVID has had in our mental health has been tremendous and we will see the full impact in years to come. We need to start talking and supporting each other. Its ok not be ok.”

Joan will be continuing his fundraising efforts for Cavewell Nurses Trust as he takes on this weekend’s Virgin London Marathon. Wearing the same comical costume, he hopes to beat the Guinness World Record as the fastest man to run a marathon dressed as a pint of beer.

You can donate to Joan’s fundraiser on his Virgin Money Giving page or text CHEERSNURSE to 70085 to donate £4 to Cavell Nurses Trust.

Be sure to follow Joan’s progress on social media by searching #Pint4Cavell or @roaringnurse via Twitter & Instagram.